Monday, 1/1/1996

There are three pictures on page B1 of The Post-Star on 1/2/96,
taken by Monty Calvert, all of which are blurry. The captions are:
Above: Christopher Haley, 4, and Trevor Robinson, 8, test the waters
before the swim. Right: Don Duffney of Corinth celebrates as he
exits the water after his fifth year particpating in the swim. Emily
Barnes, 6, tries to keep warm as she and her mother, Diane Barnes,
wathc the annual swim.

And there is a story on page B1 as well.

Galloping Goosebumps
Swimmers get shock of cold reality
By Suzanne Seay
Staff Writer

Lake George - Smiling as they shivered 92 adults and children ran
shrieking into chilly Lake George Monday afternoon.

"It's like a trampede of rhinoceros," said 8-year-old Erin A. Burns,
a three-year "trampeding" veteran.

Hooting and hollering seemed to help build determination to take
another step further into the icy water.

The actual layer of ice on the top of the lake had been pushed aside
earlier in the day by indefatigable members of the Lake George Polar
Bear Club, which hosts the annula dip.

The mid-winter swimmers became comrades as they braved the elements
with naked legs and exposed arms.

They seemed also to share a reason for jumping, diving or wading
into the lake, across which a north wind was blowing, making even
those with overcoats on and ears covered complain about the cold.

The rationale seemed heartfelt but difficult to articulate.

"People at my house call me crazy, nuts, a stupid lunatic," said
Trevor Robinson, an 8-year-old from Hudson Falls who was back for
the second year in a row. "But I like cold air and cold water and
it's cool."

Trevor enjoyed the companionship of his father and uncle.

Erin Burns, however, an 8-year-old Glens Falls resident, gets only
eye-rolling tolerance from her family.

When she was really little, her parents took her to watch the annual
New Year's tradition.

When she was 5, Erin said she wanted to swim.

"I asked my mom if I could do it and she said, 'You're foolish, but
you can do what you want to do.'"

Erin's mother, Sue D. Burns, thought her young daughter would back
out.

"But she thrived on it," said the uncomprehending mother, who
believes the absolute worst feeling in the world is to be cold.

Erin got her Polar Bear certificates, when she was 5 and 6 years
old, but last year her mother put her foot down because the girl had
a sinus infection.

Decked out in a flourescent and flowered two-piece suit, the bright-
eyed youngster was one of the first ones to hit the water yesterday
when lead organizer Charlie "Papa Bear" Albert yelled, "OK, let's
go!"

Erin's 12-year-old brother Buzz shook his head and burrowed his
hands deeper into his fleece-lined pockets.

"I get out of the shower and I'm cold," said Buzz.

Don G. Duffney of Corinth said he runs into the lake each New Year's
day to cleanse the old year and begin the new on fresh.

And 1995 was a year he was particularly glad to wash away, no matter
how long it took to warm up afterward.

Duffney stood out from his comrades in waist deep water, with his
Cat-in-the-Hat-style chapeau towering above the soggy crowd and his
outfit making a rather loud fashion statement.